(Columbia) Sept. 2, 2003 - Starting Tuesday all South Carolina parks will charge admisison fees. A $2 per person admission fee is already the price for entry at some, including Sesquicentennial State Park in northeast Richland County.

The move is an effort to increase park revenue and to meet changing visitor demands. The fee caught Joyce Willis of Orangeburg off guard, "I wasn't prepared for that. I was a little surprised that there was a charge."

Many of the state's inland parks will charge the same $2 admission for visitors 16-years-old and older. Fees at several coastal parks will range up to $5 per person. Senior citizens will have to pay at least a $1.50 to get in at all parks.

Odell Johnson of St. Matthews isn't keen on the change, "They're going to start charging the senior citizens and that to me doesn't seem to be quite fair at this point."

Sesqui manager Brad Wise says state parks remain a bargain, even with the higher fees, "It is a great deal. We have a six mile bike trail, a 30 acre lake which you can go fishing in, rent fishing boats. In the summertime we have swimming and paddle boats. We got picnic shelters, a nature trail."

The higher fees will generate a million dollars for the park system and help prevent programs from being cut.

Senior citizens can still get a price break on park admissions when they buy an annual "Palmetto Passport" for $25. That's half price. They also qualify for a 15% discount on camping, golf and picnic shelter rental fees.

By Jack Kuenzie
updated 8:42am by BrettWitt